By Nick Jones at the Sydney International Regatta Centre
The 2025 international campaign will see Australia field a host of new-look crews across both sweep and sculling boats, as well as a strengthened Para-rowing squad seeking to build on the country’s most successful Paralympic campaign to date after Gold and Bronze in Paris last year.
The selected athletes will head to Europe in just over a month to begin their international swing, competing at World Cups in Varese, Italy and Lucerne Switzerland, and the Para International Regatta in Paris. All will have an eye on making the final Rowsellas squad for the World Rowing Championships in Shanghai in September.
“It’s a really exciting place to start,” Rowing Australia Performance Director Paul Thompson MBE said. “All the crews are new, and I’ve said to the athletes – our job now is to get the best out of them.”
Among the most exciting narratives is that of Jackson Free, who will don the green and gold for the first time at senior level.
The Surfers Paradise athlete is the son of former Rowsella's Marcus Free, Grandson of Reg Free, and nephew of Olympic champion Duncan Free OAM, continuing a remarkable family lineage in Australian rowing.
In the men’s sculling squad, former lightweights Oscar McGuinness and Mitch Reinhard have earned openweight senior berths after standout performances at the recent 2025 Australian Rowing Championships (#ARC25) in Tasmania.
Both proved their open weight credentials in Penrith and will now take on the world in a new phase of their careers.
Tokyo Olympic champion Alexander Hill OAM headlines a re-shaped Men’s Four squad, backed by emerging names such as Austin Reinehr and Nik Pender, all of whom were key performers at #ARC25.
The Women's sweep squad will be doubling up the coxless pair and four into the Eight which features several returning names from last year’s Olympic team that completed an historic-best fourth place, including Georgie Rowe, Paige Barr and Jacqui Swick.
Hayley Verbunt will once again cox the crew.
Australia’s Para-rowing program enters the new cycle with confidence and momentum.
Erik Horrie OAM, still setting world-best times on the erg, returns in the PR1 Men’s Single Sculls.
In the PR3 Mixed Double Sculls, Lisa Greissl and Sam Stunnell step into the shoes of Paralympic champions Nikki Ayers OAM PLY and Jed Altschwager OAM PLY.
“They’ve got big shoes to fill,” Thompson said. “But they’re performing well, and we’re excited to see what they can do.”
The announcement of the 2025 Under 23 Australian Rowing Team highlights the strength and structure of the national pathways program.
The selected athletes will race at the World Rowing Under 23 Championships in Poznan, Poland, from July 23-27.
After a rigorous trial process in Penrith, selectors have named a crew list that blends emerging leaders with breakout stars from #ARC25.
Among them is Remy McKay – daughter of four-time Olympian and “Oarsome Foursome” legend Mike McKay OAM.
The Sydney Rowing Club athlete has been selected in the U23 Women’s Four and now continues her family’s proud rowing heritage on the world stage.
Also on the rise is Will Rogers, who raced at the 2024 World Rowing Under 19 Championships in the Junior Men’s Single Sculls and has now progressed to the U23 level at only 18.
“It really shows the depth and strength of the pathway, it’s clearly producing athletes capable of stepping up,” Rowing Australia Head of Pathways Jason Lane said.
The squad features representation from all corners of the country, from Radford College in the ACT to the Centenary Rowing Club in Queensland.
“This is just the first step,” Lane said. “We’re heading straight back into training now and will regroup in Varese ahead of the World Rowing Under 23 Championships in Poznan.”
With eyes on the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics and Paralympics, both the Senior and U23 squads reflect a clear national strategy - develop, challenge, and elevate.
“We’ve built a strong base across the entire pathway,” Lane said. “Now it’s about fine-tuning before we hit the start line.”
With a mix of proven performers, historic names, and breakthrough athletes, the 2025 campaign is set to be one of momentum and ambition.
2025 AUSTRALIAN SENIOR AND PARA ROWING TEAM
PR1 MEN’S SINGLE SCULLS
Erik Horrie OAM (NSW / QAS / Sydney Rowing Club)
PR3 MIXED DOUBLE SCULLS
Lisa Greissl (NSW / NSWIS / Lake Macquarie Rowing Club), Sam Stunell* (SA / SASI / Adelaide Rowing Club)
*Also listed in U23 team
PR3 SINGLE SCULLS - PARIS PARA INTERNATIONAL REGATTA
Isobel Egan (ACT / Radford College), Susannah Lutze (VIC / QAS / Banks Rowing Club), Macintyre Russell (QLD / University of Queensland Boat Club), Sam Stunell (SA / SASI / Adelaide Rowing Club)
WOMEN’S SINGLE SCULLS
Laura Gourley (NSW / HPNTC / UTS Haberfield Rowing Club)
WOMEN’S PAIR SQUAD
Paige Barr (VIC / HPNTC / Mercantile Rowing Club), Ella Bramwell (SA / HPNTC / Adelaide Rowing Club), Jaime Ford (NSW / Sydney University Boat Club), Emmie Frederico (VIC / HPNTC / Mercantile Rowing Club), Georgie Gleeson (VIC / HPNTC / Melbourne University Boat Club)
WOMEN’S FOUR
Jaime Ford (NSW / Sydney University Boat Club), Emmie Frederico (VIC / HPNTC / Mercantile Rowing Club), Eliza Gaffney (VIC / HPNTC / Melbourne University Boat Club), Georgina Rowe (NSW / HPNTC / UTS Haberfield Rowing Club), Jacqueline Swick (WA / HPNTC / Swan River Rowing Club)
WOMEN’S EIGHT
Paige Barr (VIC / HPNTC / Mercantile Rowing Club), Ella Bramwell (SA / HPNTC / Adelaide Rowing Club), Jaime Ford (NSW / Sydney University Boat Club), Emmie Frederico (VIC / HPNTC / Mercantile Rowing Club), Eliza Gaffney (VIC / HPNTC / Melbourne University Boat Club), Georgie Gleeson (VIC / HPNTC / Melbourne University Boat Club), Georgina Rowe (NSW / HPNTC / UTS Haberfield Rowing Club), Jacqueline Swick (WA / HPNTC / Swan River Rowing Club), Hayley Verbunt © (VIC / HPNTC / Mercantile Rowing Club)
WOMEN’S SWEEP - WORLD CUP SQUAD
Eleanor Price (NSW / HPNTC / Sydney University Boat Club), Emily Sheppard (NSW / HPNTC / Sydney University Boat Club), Taylor Caudle (NSW / Sydney University Boat Club), Zara Collisson (NSW / Sydney University Boat Club)
MEN’S DOUBLE SCULL SQUAD
Oscar McGuinness (SA / SASI / Adelaide Rowing Club), Mitch Reinhard (SA / Adelaide Rowing Club), Marcus Della Marta (NSW / RBNTC / Sydney University Boat Club)
MEN’S QUAD SCULL
Nicholas Blackman (SA / SASI / Adelaide University Boat Club), Johnson Daubney (WA / RBNTC / Swan River Rowing Club), Jackson Free (QLD / Griffith University Surfers Paradise Rowing Club), Alexander Rossi (WA / RBNTC / West Australian Rowing Club)
MEN’S PAIR
Mitch Salisbury (QLD / RBNTC / KAND Rowing Club), Nicholas Smith (VIC / RBNTC / Melbourne University Boat Club)
MEN’S FOUR SQUAD
Fergus Hamilton (NSW / RBNTC / Mercantile Rowing Club), Alexander Hill OAM (SA / RBNTC / Adelaide Rowing Club), Fraser Miscamble (VIC / RBNTC / Melbourne University Boat Club), Alex Nichol (NSW / NSWIS / Sydney Rowing Club), Nikolas Pender (NSW / RBNTC / UTS Haberfield Rowing Club), Austin Reinehr (VIC / RBNTC / Mercantile Rowing Club)
MEN’S SWEEP RESERVES
Charlie Batrouney (VIC / RBNTC / Melbourne University Boat Club), Jack Robertson (VIC / RBNTC / Mercantile Rowing Club)
2025 AUSTRALIAN UNDER 23 ROWING TEAM
U23 PR3 WOMEN'S SINGLE SCULLS
Isobel Egan (ACT / Radford College)
Coach: Max Meyer (ACT / Radford College)
U23 PR3 MEN'S SINGLE SCULLS
Sam Stunell (SA / SASI / Adelaide Rowing Club)
Coach: Christine Maclaren (SA / RBNTC)
U23 WOMEN’S PAIR
Isabella Scammell (NSW / NSWIS / Sydney Rowing Club), Sophie Barr (SA / SASI / Sydney Rowing Club)
Coach: Lachlan Carter (NSW / Sydney Rowing Club)
U23 WOMEN’S FOUR
Laura Sypher* (NSW / Sydney Rowing Club), Olivia Nattey (NSW / Sydney University Boat Club), Remy McKay (NSW / Sydney Rowing Club), Zara Lavery (VIC / VIS / Melbourne University Boat Club)
Coach: Alfred Young (NSW / Sydney University Boat Club)
*Pending medical clearance
U23 WOMEN’S QUAD SCULLS
Elize Bridgefoot (QLD / QAS / University of Queensland Boat Club), Olivia Yeates (TAS / TIS / Tasmania University Boat Club), Sarah Fahd (NSW / NSWIS / UTS Haberfield Rowing Club), Sophie Malcolm (QLD / QAS / Centenary Rowing Club)
Coach: Ellen Randell (NSW / HPNTC)
U23 WOMEN’S SINGLE SCULL
Romy Cantwell (VIC / VIS / Melbourne University Boat Club)
Coach: TBC
U23 MEN’S PAIR
Alec Hoskin (NSW / NSWIS / Sydney Rowing Club), Montgomery Martin (QLD / QAS / University of Queensland Boat Club)
Coach: Shane Mulvaney (NSW / Sydney Rowing Club)
U23 MEN’S FOUR
Hugh Harrold (NSW / Sydney Rowing Club), Joseph Lynch (NSW / UTS Haberfield Rowing Club), Thomas Foley (VIC / Melbourne University Boat Club), Winston Hooper (VIC / VIS / Melbourne University Boat Club)
Coach: TBC
U23 MEN’S QUAD SCULLS
Adam Holland (SA / SASI / Adelaide Rowing Club), Hamish Danks (NSW / NSWIS / Sydney University Boat Club), Sam Mounter (TAS / Tasmania University Boat Club), William Rogers (NSW / Sydney University Boat Club)
Coach: Tom Laurich (NSW / Sydney University Boat Club)
2025 Australian Under 23 Rowing Team